Trimester Academic Calendar FAQs
JCU is introducing a refreshed academic calendar that transitions our courses to a trimester format. This represents a significant change in how our academic year is structured, enhancing the flexibility and delivery of our courses.
DVC Education, Professor Maree Dinan-Thompson shares more on our move to a refreshed academic calendar.
Why is JCU making this change?
The rationale behind this change is to align with a student-centric approach that emphasizes accessibility and choice. By adopting a trimester system, we aim to provide our students with the ability to integrate their studies more conveniently with their personal and professional lives, the opportunity for greater academic mobility, and accelerated learning options.
When will this occur?
The transition towards the trimester delivery model will commence in a staggered manner from 2024, ensuring that each course is carefully integrated into the new system without disruption to the students' educational experience.
Change in terminology within the Academic Refresh
With the refreshed academic calendar, we're also updating our terminology to better reflect our new structure. The term 'Carousel' (intensive units) will be replaced with 'Block', denoting a more structured and sequential approach to our study periods. Consequently, study periods 81 through 86 will be rebranded as Block 1 through Block 6, respectively, to align with this change.
Hear more about 2024 Student & Staff Experience
JCU Students and Staff share their experience in transitioning to Trimester study
Can't find an answer to your question?
Courses transitioning to Trimester delivery in 2025
Pathway Programs | |
---|---|
117621 | Diploma of Tertiary Studies [Exit only] |
116221 | Diploma of Engineering [Pathway] |
16020 | Advanced Diploma of Arts [Exit Only] |
114513 | Associate Degree in Creative Arts and Media [Exit Only] |
112713 | Associate Degree in Health Sciences [Exit Only] |
16020 | Bachelor of Life Sciences [Exit Only] |
Undergraduate Degrees | |
---|---|
115710 | Bachelor of Arts |
20310 | Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Business |
60210 | Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Laws |
12010 | Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Science |
115510 | Bachelor of Advanced Science |
60610 | Bachelor of Business - Bachelor of Laws (commencing from 2024) |
114310 | Bachelor of Business - Bachelor of Psychological Science |
20709 | Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) [End-on] |
119110 | Bachelor of Cybersecurity (available at JCU Singapore only) |
121310 | Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management |
116209 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) [Embedded] |
116309 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) [Embedded] - Bachelor of Information Technology |
116409 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) [Embedded] - Bachelor of Science |
20110E | Bachelor of Economics (available at JCU Singapore only) |
56010 | Bachelor of Geology (available for existing students only) |
50110M | Bachelor of Marine Science |
10309A | Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) [End-on] |
50910 | Bachelor of Planning (available for existing students only) |
50909 | Bachelor of Planning (Honours) [Embedded] (available for existing students only) |
115810 | Bachelor of Science |
60510 | Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Laws |
112510 | Bachelor of Social Work |
112509 | Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) [Embedded] |
70610 | Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (mixed Trimester and Semester delivery with new students beginning in January) |
71409 | Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) (mixed Trimester and Semester delivery with new students beginning in January) |
119209 | Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) (mixed Trimester and Semester delivery with new students beginning in January) |
Postgraduate Degrees | |
---|---|
15707 | Graduate Diploma of Psychology |
73907 | Graduate Diploma of Midwifery |
118304 | Master of Engineering (Professional) |
119504 | Master of Marine Biology |
106904 | Master of Science |
115804 | Master of Science (Professional) |
103804 | Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) |
The Trimester FAQs page will remain the key source of information regarding Trimester transition in 2025.
Delivering a positive student experience remains our top priority. Your college will provide details about changes to your course commencing from late August, followed by student forums scheduled from September to address any queries or concerns.
College of Science & Engineering
CSE Student Resources page offers further detail on CSE courses transitioning to trimesters.
You can also connect with the JCU Student Centre team in person, or by chat (with Sunny), phone call or email.
JCU Colleges held Student Forums to share further information regarding the transition of selected courses into trimester delivery, as part of the refreshed academic calendar. The forum provided an opportunity to ask questions regarding the change to your course. All forums will have a zoom link for remote access and will be recorded. Please contact your course coordinator for a copy of the forum recording and slides.
Course enrolment planners will be automatically emailed to students by the Student Services Enrolments team as the relevant college confirms course transition planning. We are unable to provide exact timeframes regarding updated course specific enrolment plans at this time. All students will receive their revised Course Enrolment Plan prior to Trimester 1, 2025 commencement. Please monitor your JCU email.
We understand students may seek to plan study breaks for 2025, please refer to the Academic Calendars for your relevant study period date.
Courses transitioning to Trimester in 2026
Undergraduate Degrees | |
---|---|
16020 | Advanced Diploma of Arts [Exit Only] |
112713 | Associate Degree of Health Sciences [Exit only] |
73010 | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
109310 | Bachelor of Education (Primary) |
109410 | Bachelor of Education (Secondary) |
30410A | Bachelor of Educational Services [Exit Only] |
118609 | Bachelor of Laws (Honours) [End-on] |
112710 | Bachelor of Life Sciences [Exit only] |
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) [Embedded](Suspended) | |
70509 | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)[Embedded] |
71310 | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
71309 | Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)[Embedded] |
50109 | Bachelor of Science (Honours) [End-on] |
71409 | Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) [Embedded] |
70610 | Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science |
119209 | Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) [Embedded] |
117621 | Diploma of Tertiary Studies [Exit Only] |
Postgraduate Degrees | |
---|---|
76511 | Graduate Certificate of Aeromedical Retrieval |
75011 | Graduate Certificate of Biomedical Sciences [Exit Only] |
84111 | Graduate Certificate of Clinical Psychology [Exit Only] |
76811 | Graduate Certificate of Disaster Health and Humanitarian Assistance |
Graduate Certificate of Education (Academic Practice) (Suspended) | |
118211 | Graduate Certificate of Global Development |
107011 | Graduate Certificate of Health Professional Education |
121411 | Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies |
76711 | Graduate Certificate of Infection Control |
109111 | Graduate Certificate of International Hospitality Management [Exit only] |
122111 | Graduate Certificate of Lifestyle Medicine |
101811 | Graduate Certificate of Public Health |
117511 | Graduate Certificate of Rural Generalist Practice [Exit Only] |
73511 | Graduate Certificate of Travel Medicine |
109006 | Graduate Diploma of Business Administration [Exit Only] |
84107 | Graduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology [Exit only] |
118206 | Graduate Diploma of Global Development |
107006 | Graduate Diploma of Health Professional Education |
50306 | Graduate Diploma of Information Technology [Exit Only] |
109106 | Graduate Diploma of International Hospitality Management [Exit Only] |
122106 | Graduate Diploma of Lifestyle Medicine |
116107 | Graduate Diploma of Medical Science |
73707 | Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
117506 | Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice |
113906 | Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy |
73807 | Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |
118204 | Master of Global Development |
34704 | Master of Guidance and Counselling |
107004 | Master of Health Professional Education |
122104 | Master of Lifestyle Medicine |
117204 | Master of Medical Science |
121504 | Master of Professional Psychology |
102304 | Master of Psychology (Clinical) |
72504 | Master of Public Health |
122204 | Master of Public Health - Master of Global Development |
74204 | Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
109804 | Master of Public Health-Master of Business Administration |
117504 | Master of Rural Generalist Practice |
114104 | Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) |
Delivering a positive student experience remains our top priority. Your college will provide details about changes to your course commencing from late August 2025, followed by student forums to address any queries or concerns.
If you are an international student, the below FAQs may not apply to you. For specific information on how the trimesters will affect prospective international students, please visit our international trimester FAQs page.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Trimester is a model where teaching is split over three equal study periods during a calendar year.
The semester model has two teaching periods per academic year of 13 weeks each.
The trimester model has three teaching periods per academic year of 10 weeks each.
From 2024, the structure of each Trimester includes:
10 weeks of teaching
One week lecture recess
One week for exams.
View the current Academic Calendars here.
The primary benefit of our students is that trimesters responds to the demand for flexible , year round learning.
Students can better manage their study load. Students can structure their own degree progression and even build one or two trimester breaks into their study plans to balance work, family, and university commitments. Students can also complete 9 subjects in one calendar year (a slight acceleration) or 6 subjects across three trimesters to maintain full-time load. The trimester model caters for ‘study around work’ and other commitments.
Trimesters also simplifies and aligns study periods across all JCU locations. From 2024, the academic calendar aligns JCU Australia, JCU Singapore and JCU Brisbane, which increases opportunities for shared study experiences.
Some courses have already transitioned to trimesters including:
During 2021 courses in the College of Business, Law & Governance except Law.
During 2022 first year subjects in the Bachelor of Information Technology (or a dual course).
Commencing from 2024 further courses will transition to trimesters.
Yes, students studying online will also follow the Trimester model.
The Trimester FAQs page will remain the key source of information regarding Trimester transition in 2026.
Delivering a positive student experience remains our top priority. Your college will provide details about changes to your course commencing from late August 2025, followed by student forums to address any queries or concerns.
The flexibility to accommodate a separation of Trimester and Semester study periods could result in dual and double degree students studying across trimesters and semesters. You can seek study planning advice by emailing enrolments@jcu.edu.au.
Placements and thesis projects (or similar activities) depend on the specific course. When designing courses for a trimester system, JCU policy and TEQSA requirements regarding timing and required completion hours have been carefully considered.
Yes, this is part of the implementation communications strategy and plan tailored for each college and its courses. Ongoing communications will be provided to both staff and students. More information is available on the website here.
The annual tuition fee will not change in relation to 1 EFTSL as a result of transition of a course to trimesters. International student fee increase and student contribution changes that the Australian government may make from year to year, however this is not in relation to change to trimesters.
For domestic students fees are triggered by subject enrolment, therefore the total annual fee a student pays year to year may vary, while the overall course costs will not. For example; the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) is a 4 year accelerated program completed in 3 years as a result of the change to trimesters. As such, students pay more per calendar year with the overall cost of the course unchanged.
To be classed as full-time a student will be required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points in each standard study period.
A normal full-time workload for each Trimester is nine credit points (three subjects). For Student Income Support purposes a student must undertake 75 per cent of the normal full-time workload; being six credit points (two subjects) for a Trimester. For more information, please refer to the Australian Government website for details about eligibility for Student Income Support.
Guidelines for undertaking study in the Trimester model and retaining eligibility for Student Income Support:
- If a student requires Student Income Support for the full academic year they must enrol in six subjects spread across all three trimesters, with at least one enrolment in every Trimester. It is recommended students enrol in all their subjects for that year no later than January of the academic year to enable system processing and sustained income support.
- If a student’s enrolment pattern for the year will have an uneven number of subjects in each trimester (e.g. 3+2+1 or 3+1+3), it is recommended they enrol in all their subjects before the commencement of Trimester One to indicate to Centrelink they are planning to undertake the minimum 75 per cent normal full time load across the year.
Each Study Period and Trimester is allocated to a Teaching Period. The academic year is divided into two Teaching Periods. Teaching Period 1 is the first six months of the year and Teaching Period 2 is the second six months of the year. Subjects with a census date prior to 1 July fall within Teaching Period 1, and subjects with a census date on or after 1 July fall within Teaching Period 2. Trimesters One and Two are included in Teaching Period 1 and Trimester Three is included in Teaching Period 2.
To be classed as full-time a student will be required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points in each standard study period.
A normal full-time workload for each Teaching Period is 12 credit points (four subjects). For Student Income Support purposes a student must undertake 75 per cent of the normal full-time workload; being 9 credit points (3 subjects) for that Teaching Period. For more information please refer to the Australian Government website for details about eligibility for Student Income Support.
Guidelines for retaining eligibility for Student Income Support whilst undertaking study in Teaching Periods when also required to undertake a subject offered in a Trimester:
- If a student requires Student Income Support for the full academic year they must enrol in six subjects spread across two Teaching Periods. It is recommended students enrol in all their subjects for that year at the commencement of the academic year.
- Teaching Period 1 example: If a student is required to enrol in two subjects in Study Period 1 and one subject in Trimester One they must be enrolled in the subjects before the earliest commencement date.
- Teaching Period 2 example: If a student is required to enrol in one subject in Study Period 2 and two subjects in Trimester Three they must be enrolled in the subjects before the earliest commencement date.
If available in the course, students can undertake a mix of both on-campus and online subjects. Students enrolled as on-campus (internal) are able to undertake online subjects. Please refer to the subject search engine for subject availability.
No, graduation dates are not affected by trimesters.
Students can enrol into a maximum of three subjects per trimester. Enrolment in additional subjects needs to be approved by the College. Students requesting approval will be assessed on their GPA score.
Depending on the course structure, student may not be required to study in all three trimesters, however, if a student receives Centrelink payments, they may be required to undertake study in all three trimesters to be eligible for payments while studying. For more information see FAQ ‘How will studying in Study Periods and Trimesters affect my Centrelink Payments?’ This response may not apply to international students. Please refer to the International FAQs for information tailored to international students.
No, not all subjects are offered in every trimester. Please refer to the subject search engine for subject availability.
Please direct any enrolment-related enquiries to enrolments@jcu.edu.au.
Courses delivered in Trimesters from 2024 include:
Pathway Programs | |
---|---|
100130 | JCU Prep (commencing from 2024) |
113121 | Diploma of Higher Education |
118121 | Diploma of Business |
118421 | Diploma of Technology |
Undergraduate Degrees | |
116910 | Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (commencing from 2024) |
20510 | Bachelor of Business |
60610 | Bachelor of Business - Bachelor of Laws |
114310 | Bachelor of Business - Bachelor of Psychological Science |
20710 | Bachelor of Commerce |
103110 | Bachelor of Information Technology |
103109 | Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) [end-on] |
118610 | Bachelor of Laws (commencing 2024) |
70809 | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) [Embedded] |
112810 | Bachelor of Psychological Science |
109110 | Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events |
Postgraduate Degrees | |
23511 | Graduate Certificate of Accounting |
109011 | Graduate Certificate of Business Administration |
23411 | Graduate Certificate of Conflict Management and Resolution |
50311 | Graduate Certificate of Information Technology |
23506 | Graduate Diploma of Accounting |
109104 | Master of International Tourism and Hospitality Management |
112304 | Master of International Tourism and Hospitality Management - Master of Business Administration |
116204 | Master of Business Administration |
116604 | Master of Business Administration (2 year) |
112004 | Master of Business Administration - Master of Conflict Management and Resolution |
113804 | Master of Education (commencing from 2024) |
117404 | Master of Education - Master of Business Administration |
117704 | Master of Governance and Leadership |
113504 | Master of Information Technology |
112404 | Master of Information Technology - Master of Business Administration |
109504 | Master of Professional Accounting |
112104 | Master of Professional Accounting - Master of Business Administration |
Courses delivered through a combination of Trimester and Semesters include:
115510 | Bachelor of Advanced Science |
20310 | Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Business |
12010 | Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Science |
101510 | Bachelor of Business and Environmental Science |
109410 | Bachelor of Education (Secondary) Accounting, Business and Economics Teaching Areas Only |
109310 | Bachelor of Education (Primary) |
109410 | Bachelor of Education (Secondary) |
116209 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) |
116309 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Bachelor of Information Technology |
116409 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Bachelor of Science |
115710 | Bachelor of Science |
109804 | Master of Public Health - Master of Business Administration |
The availability of placements and thesis projects (or similar activities) varies depending on the specific course. When converting courses to trimesters, we carefully consider the timing and required hours of completion, aligning with JCU policy and TEQSA requirements. This ensures that these practical components fit seamlessly into your academic schedule.
The overall cost of a course remains the same with the transition to trimesters. However, some courses will be completed in a shorter time frame due to the trimester model. This means some students may pay more per calendar year, but the total cost of the course stays unchanged. For specific course fees, please refer to the individual course page on the JCU website: www.jcu.edu.au/courses
Yes, this is part of the implementation communication strategy and plan customized for each college and course. Regular updates will be provided to both staff and students. Additional details can be accessed on the website, which is available here.